About Lesley
Hello and thank you for visiting my blog!
Sam Abell so eloquently wrote,
“whether working or not, photographers are looking, seeing, and thinking about
what they see...”
I am always thinking about and
seeing things I want to photograph, I am obsessed! I pick up my camera,
and take pictures every day. Whether it is for a client, or just for me
as I walk around my yard with my macro lens, capturing images of the flowers
and dragonflies, the wide angle for clouds, (I love clouds!) whatever I find
interesting. I also have fun taking pictures of my husband and son, along
with the Pugs we have and we foster for Pug Rescue of Florida!
Professionally I am an on-location
and studio photographer located in the Tampa Bay area specializing in
contemporary portrait, commercial, and real estate photography. My goal
is to make your portrait session a special and enjoyable experience, and
customize it to fit your specific needs.
When I am not spending time with my
family or in a photo session, I am always working on learning more, by
attending workshop events, reading, and practicing what I love.
I belong to several professional
organizations, Tampa Area Professional Photographers Association, National
Association of Photoshop Professionals, the Tampa Bay Strobist and Photoshop
Collective, and also volunteer my photography to a few organizations that are
very dear to me which are:
Pug Rescue of Florida - I photograph Pugs that are looking
for their forever homes, my family and I are a foster family for two pugs at
this time, and I help out coordinating foster homes for surrendered Pugs, and
Pug adoptions, and help out in other areas where needed. Pug Rescue of Florida,
Inc. (PROoF) is a non-profit 501(c)3 animal rescue organization that exists for
the sole purpose of finding caring, safe, and loving permanent homes for
rescued, displaced, and homeless dogs of the Pug breed regardless of age or
condition. PROoF operates through an organized network of volunteers and
sustains itself through both fund-raising efforts and the generous financial
support of private individuals and commercial entities.
The Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay,
I provide my photography services free of charge to The Heart Gallery of Tampa
Bay for the children in foster care located in the Tampa area to help them find
a forever home whenever I am needed. The Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay is a
traveling photographic and audio exhibit created to find forever families for
children in foster care. The Heart Gallery of America is a collaborative
project of over 120 Heart Galleries across the United States (and growing)
designed to increase the number of adoptive families for children needing homes
in our community.
Operation: Love Reunited
(OpLove) Currently, I am the
Regional Coordinator for the South Florida Region, and offer my photography
services for free for qualified recipients of OpLove's services. My
favorite session I offer is a homecoming session! Here is link to a video
of a homecoming I created. I was also fortunate to have one of my images
selected by the Today Show to be used in a story about OpLove. The Today
Show story can be seen here. The image used can be found here. OpLove
Reunited is a federal non-profit organization of professional photographers
that have joined together to offer our military men and women FREE photo
sessions with their family. Military families are eligible for two
patriotic photo sessions per year, per deployment.
HELP-PORTRAIT is a global movement of
photographers using their time, gear, and expertise to give back to those in
need. This event currently occurs once a year in December.
I look forward to capturing the
special moments of you, your family, and/or your pets. Capturing those
special moments in time keeps us living those moments forever!
Sincerely,
Lesley
